Here's this week's column for American Life in Poetry. When I read Joyce's beautiful poem, it called to mind my own aunts and many family gatherings over the years. American Life in Poetry: Column 309 BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE

I love poems that celebrate families, and here’s a fine one by Joyce Sutphenof Minnesota, a poet who has written dozens of poems I’d like to publish in this column if there only were weeks enough for all of them.

It is such a delight to stumble across blogs like yours, especially when I see the phrase "fly-over country" in the header. It looks like we have a bit in common: Midwest literature has been dead center on my radar for the past two years. Some of my favorites include Sutphen's and Holm's and Gruchow's work (your post on Holm's "Blizzard" was what led me here), and I could go on and on about many of the other writers on your list. In fact, I could go on and on about literature and writing in general. My best cocooning always comes with a book in hand.

Emily, thanks so much for stumbling into Fly-over Country and leaving your comment. That's great to know a Bill Holm poem led you here. I visited your blog, landingoncloudywater.blogspot.com, and I love it. Yes, we do seem to have a bit in common. I enjoyed reading "30 Before 30"--fun list. I'm looking forward to visiting again and reading your work.

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I love to play with words. To capture moments on the page. To explore the physical and spiritual geography of what I call "fly-over country." I write from imagination, observation and my own experience of wandering in fly-over country--the literal, physical spaces of my life on the Minnesota prairie and the inner territory of the soul.

I teach writing at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota. I enjoy cooking and traveling with my husband Jim, reading, practicing yoga, playing tennis, biking, hiking and gardening.